Looking for a new way to incorporate reading into summer adventures? Plan a backyard campout where you lay out and read stories together by the light of a fire pit or lanterns. Or, better yet pack up and go on a real camping trip with your books. Don’t let Colorado weather ruin plans. This can be easily be set up in the house as well if the weather is uncooperative. A weekend of any variation of this will be a highly memorable thing for your children. It combines so much fun along with education that they may not even realize is happening.

You could even plan a theme for the evening. Tell ghost stories, make it a Disney book night, or family favorites. Find children’s books about camping while they are experiencing it. Get some s’mores going to add to the excitement. Pitch the pop-up tent and have the puppies and stuffies join you. Try to fit as many blankets and pillows in the tent to make it extra comfortable for the ultimate reading fort.

Whether you’re backyard camping or great outdoor camping you can plan a reading discussion for the following night as well. The next day take the kiddos on a hike. Have them write down or draw the things that they see on their hike. Bring along a wilderness book to see how many of the same things they encountered during their day. They will be so excited to talk about it and learn more about what they saw. This is a simple and fun way to unplug with the whole family for a night or the whole weekend!

Finally! Its summer y’all! Have you been counting down the days like we have?! As the cold days become fewer and fewer, my family is in the mood for sunshine and fun. I have begun planning mini vacations, weekend trips, and the day to day activities. I think these will be great to do this summer. In previous years, we have had a ‘go with the flow’ type of schedule. On the weekends we would go to the pool and try to catch things that were free around town. While that has been great, I wanted to try something new this summer! We are making a summer bucket list! This list is going to have daily goals and also BIG summer fun goals included. Here are a few tips and some of the ideas that my kids and I have come up with!

Depending on the age of your kiddos, you may need to make separate goal sheets for each child. My vision for this is to include daily goals they can accomplisheasily. And also family goals or a summer bucket list. I feel having this tool for the summer will help keep us busy and have a more organized schedule. Because truth is, I say that I want to do these ‘things’ over the summer and I either end up forgetting what I wanted to do (seriously…) or I get lazy and take the easy way out and make park and pool trips. Which is totally fine. But it means that I never followed through with what I wanted my kids to experience over the summer.

Daily goals

Depending on age, these are simple things that they need to get done daily. You could turn this into chore type activities. Or small learning activities that will help keep those brain cells busy in the summer months. My preschooler has 3 daily goals:

to read 30 mins total (with sissy or a parent),

feed the dog dinner (he picked),

and play a writing/letter game with mom.

So, this is a combination of chores and learning. It is important to include your kiddo in making these decisions. It makes them feel the responsibility of making a choice. These goals will most likely get switched up during the summer. This way, he can focus on other things he needs to work on and will be involved in that process too. Now, I have thought of also doing a reward system for this…but decided against it. I want these goals to really feel important to him and not become something he is doing for a sticker/toy. This means working with my preschooler so he understands the concept a bit more. I want to pump him up so he meets his goals and feels proud.

A well thought out summer bucket list

Family goals or Summer Bucket List

This is a concept that I came across online, but I put my own spin on it. Online, the picture had all the places they wanted to go visit. While that will work, I just wanted to be more specific and expand it a little. So, for our Summer Bucket List we are coming up with a list of things that we really want to do/see/explore and also some kindness activities. I picked a few items on the list and I let each of my kiddos choose things to add. Most of the things we added are things that we are surely able to accomplish and will be awesome to be able to cross them off.

Some of the ideas my kiddos came up with fall into the ‘we will sure try’ category. While I am not sure if we will be able to do some of the items, I still wanted to include them. I think it is also important for them to see what happens when goals are not met as planned. That way, they get to have conversations and examine their feelings on it and grow from it.

I really feel this system will make a positive difference in our summer adventure. I want them to really have a busy, fun, and engaging summer! Having a small outline of what this will look like will help keep us all accountable. I also recently read a quote online that said “You only get 18 summers with your children, that’s it. So make it count.” Boom. Right to the feels for sure. Being a kid is such an experience that can be truly magical. MY daily goal is to act like a kid and have fun, that way my children will have the most memorable summer ever!

We are all told that it is important to read to our children and have them read every day especially in the summer time. But some take it as a side thought like sunscreen application; something that should not be optional. It is important in all areas of your kiddo’s education to keep them reading regularly throughout the summer. Children lose more during the summer than they gain during the school year when they stop ALL learning. Summer reading is a simple and fun way to keep those brains chugging until school starts up again.

Most libraries have summer reading programs of some kind. They even offer rewards for reading so much in a certain amount of time. This is fun for the competitiveness in us all. Check your local library or online to see what they have planned for the summer and make a commitment of going once a week.

Just the short amount of time during the summer can put your child up to two years behind their peers who were reading during the summer months. They will not catch up because they spend the following school year trying to get back to where they were at the end of the previous year. These statistics are terrifying to see how fragile learning is. If we leave it, we lose it.

Reading during the summer is such an effortless activity that can save your kiddo tons of heartache and you in the long run. You are much less busy during the summer (so to speak) that reading can become an activity that replaces something you do during the school year (like band practice or dance lessons). Make the commitment you won’t be sorry.

Books are everywhere. Make finding new books a game. Take trips to the library, thrift shops, garage sales, do book exchange play dates, and keep books in the car during vacation travels. If you have reading times set in place already then just stick with those through the summer as well. You are setting the tone for the love of reading into your children now, then it does not feel like work for them late on in life. It is simply something they enjoy doing just like other activities. Happy Summer reading friends!

One of the decisions that many parents find daunting is if they need to send their children to preschool. While it is definitely a tough choice, sending a child to preschool offers a plethora of benefits. Find out if going the preschool route is the best decision. Read the following preschool pros and cons to help you make the right choice.

PROS

Preschool offers a learning environment away from home

It is true that the foundation of learning begins at home. The familiar environment at home provides children with plenty of opportunities for exploration. On the other hand, what preschool offers is a formal learning environment that is difficult to emulate at home. Preschools have a structured curriculum which allows children to learn skills that help set them on the path for future success. Also, there are plenty of other things that young kids can learn from preschool they can’t at home.

It provides a place to practice social skills

Making friends and interacting with other children are some of the most important parts of a child’s social development. Preschool provides children with more opportunities to do it. In a preschool setting, young kids can socialize better. They are given activities that let them play, interact and work together with other kids their age. In a typical home, children only get to socialize when play dates are organized or when they have neighbors to play with. In the safe and friendly environment of a preschool setting, children learn how to resolve their own conflicts. It is also in a preschool that children can develop life long friendships.

It provides more opportunities for exploration

While home-based learning helps build the foundation for a child’s growth and development, the opportunities it provides are limited. Preschool provides the same exploration opportunities and more! In preschool, children have access to advanced learning options. The curriculum is designed in a way where children have the chance to read, write and learn while having fun. They are given activities that teach them the fundamentals of counting, the alphabet, creating art, and a lot more!

It helps children form relationships with adults they can trust

Young children usually cling to their parents because they feel like they are the only adults they can trust. And because they are so used to being with you, even relatives and other family members may feel foreign to them. By sending your child to preschool, it will be easier for them to develop relationships with other adults. They will gradually feel that it’s okay to not have you around as they begin to trust other adults.

It provides exposure to new experiences

Preschool provides children with learning experiences outside the four corners of the classroom. They get exposed to new experiences as they go on field trips and visit fire stations, police stations and other significant community events. Most of these experiences are something they don’t have access to at home.

CONS

Preschool is expensive

Most preschools don’t come cheap. While there are some that offer scholarships, most have a set tuition rate which parents pay before their children can be enrolled. It’s not just the tuition. There are other fees outside the tuition costs. There’s the security deposits, registration fees, field trip costs, school supplies and more.

It may increase children’s exposure to illnesses

Like any other school setting, preschool may increase the risk of children getting sick. Being with other kids may increase your child’s likelihood to get sick, if they do not have a strong immune system.

Sending your little one to preschool may entail a few disadvantages. However, they are nothing compared to the wonderful benefits of preschool. Make sure you are choosing the right preschool for your child and enroll them in Young Scholars Academy. Please feel free to give us a call for more information.

Children love the magic of Christmas and Santa Claus coming to town has made many Christmases merry and bright. Santa can be found in many different locations during the holidays but finding the perfect Santa experience for you children and family can be a little daunting. Listed below are a few of the Winter Wonderlands you and your family can visit this year.

Santa at the Chapel Hills Mall is a fun and convenient way to let your children visit Santa while also getting some Christmas shopping done. Santa is available Monday-Saturday 10:00 am – 8:00 pm with breaks from 1:00-2:00 pm and 5:00-6:00(Even Santa has to stop to eat), Sunday 11:00 am – 6:00 pm with a break from 2:00-3:00 pm, and December 24th from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm with a break from 1:00-2:00 pm. He will be at the Mall through December 24th. Do your fur babies want to meet the big guy? Chapel Hills Mall offers pet night every Monday through December 17th from 6:00-8:00 pm. Pictures can be purchased at the time of visit.

Another convenient way to meet Santa is through the Citadel Mall. They have the same hours for Santa as the Chapel Hills Mall but instead of offering pet night, the Citadel has partnered with NORAD Tracks Santa. Their web page https://www.noradsanta.org opens December 1st and tracks Santa though the Christmas season.

Santa’s Wonderland at Bass Pro Shops offers a different free craft each week, a free 4X6 photo, and games and activities. From now through December 1st Santa is available Monday-Friday 5:00-8:00 pm and crafts from 5:00-7:00 pm, Saturday 10:00 am – 8:00 pm with crafts from 12:00-5:00 pm, and Sunday 12:00-5:00 pm with crafts those same hours. December 2nd-24th hours are Mon-Sat 10:00 am – 8:00 pm and Sunday’s and Christmas Eve from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm. with crafts on weekday evenings 5:00-7:00 pm and weekends 12:00-5:00 pm.

If you are looking for a Santa tradition for your family, catch the Santa Express Train from the Royal Gorge Route Railroad. Pricing Varies from day and seating; $44-$74 for adults and $34-$69 for children ages 1-12. Guests can pre-purchase meals or purchase them on the train. Passengers can also buy a photo to document their Santa Express experience. Call or log on to make reservations 719-276-4000 or https://royalgorgeroute.com/santa-express-train/ Santa Fe Depot off of Highway 50 Canon City CO 81212

Holiday Evening at Rock Ledge Ranch invites you to celebrate an old fashioned Christmas with light tours, blacksmithing demonstrations, barn dancing, Victorian celebrations, Edwardian festivities, and a visit from St. Nicholas. The general store will be open for purchasing hot cider and other goodies. This event takes place December 15th starting at 4pm. 719-578-6777. 3105 Gateway Rd 80904. Adults $8, Seniors $5, andChildren 6-12 $4.

Here are just a few places near Colorado Springs to bring the magic of Christmas to your family. No matter how you chose to visit Santa, with kids and/or pets, in the mall or on a train, be sure to have fun and enjoy time making new holiday memories.